West Wardsboro, VT: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 82/100
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for West Wardsboro: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Within West Wardsboro, safety indicators for tap water remain above the VT median - documented violations are infrequent and the city's compliance record sits in the upper tier.
How West Wardsboro Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
West Wardsboro Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 28 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0019 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 49% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,600 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.09 - above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving West Wardsboro
Most residential addresses in West Wardsboro, VT are served by a single water utility - the dominant system among the 1 provider tracked in federal data.
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in West Wardsboro, Vermont (population ~364), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 6,200 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for West Wardsboro: B (82/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
West Wardsboro water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0019 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | Inorganic | 2 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2005 | Other | 2 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2010 | Other | 2 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2015 | Other | 2 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2020 | Other | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05360 | B | 28 | 1 | Winhall Stratton F D 1 |
All ZIP Codes in West Wardsboro
- 05360 [B] - 28 violations ⚠
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
CDC Health Data for West Wardsboro
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Key Contaminants Detected in West Wardsboro
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is West Wardsboro's Housing Stock?
With 49% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Tap water lead levels are shaped by two factors: what the utility delivers, and what the household plumbing adds to it. Older homes contribute disproportionately to that second variable because lead solder was standard in copper plumbing before 1986, and lead pipes were common before 1970. In West Wardsboro, where the median build year is 1983, a substantial share of the housing stock falls into these older categories. The bar chart above breaks out the pre-1970, 1970-to-1986, and post-1986 segments - the key ages for understanding where plumbing-era risk concentrates across the city.
Most homes in West Wardsboro were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
West Wardsboro: Remediation Cost in Perspective
In West Wardsboro, property values comfortably outpace what documented remediation typically costs - the equity share is proportionally low.
Remediation costs in West Wardsboro are relatively low compared to home values. The $800–$2,600 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 5% below the Vermont average.
Protecting Children from Lead in West Wardsboro
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
If 49% of the West Wardsboro inventory comes from before the federal ban on lead-bearing solder - and if utility samples sit at or near 0.015 mg/L - the gap between citywide averages and one specific faucet becomes a practical concern rather than a theoretical one. That is why one-home reads exist as a separate measurement. A certified filter through retailer networks addresses confirmed exposure where it appears in a household.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for West Wardsboro
Historical NFIP data for West Wardsboro contains 1 flood insurance claim. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $3,500. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The <strong>$1,600</strong> remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for West Wardsboro, VT